BNP for govt step to resolve current political standoff

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has said that the government will have to take initiative to resolve the current political standoff over the issue of caretaker government (CG). The BNP chairperson said this at her Gulshan office in the city Thursday night, reports UNB. The leader of the Opposition made the remark when asked to comment on UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's suggestions that political parties should resolve their differences through dialogue. "It is the responsibility of the government. They'll have to decide what they'll do. We've already cleared our position to the people," she said. During his recent three-day official visit to Dhaka, the UN secretary general had meetings on November 14 with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and opposition leader Khaleda Zia. At his pre-departure press conference, Ban Ki-moon said the United Nations is ready to provide technical and logistical support to conduct credible and transparent general elections in Bangladesh. The BNP-led four-party alliance, headed by opposition leader Khaleda Zia, has been carrying out movement to restore the provision of the CG that was scrapped through the 15th amendment to the national constitution. Asked whether BNP will join the upcoming Comilla City Corporation election, Khaleda Zia said it would be decided at a meeting of the party forum. In the Narayanganj City Corporation elections, BNP pulled out from the mayoral race at the last moment in protest against non-deployment of army in the election. Replying to a question, the BNP chief said apart from road march, she would visit different districts to address public meetings. Asked when her party's acting secretary general will be made a full-fledged secretary general, the BNP chairperson said it would happen at an appropriate time.